Jack is going back!

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I have to say, contrary to everybody else, i don't think this horse has been given a chance.

If a regular posted here and explained that they had put their horse out on loan because they couldn't keep it - and the horse came back within a matter of days, 90% of the posts would be saying that the horse had not been given a chance to settle in to new surroundings, new field companions, changes in routine, etc.

I would be wanting this horse at least 2-3 weeks before making any decisions, and maybe taking a step back on the work being done until it has a little more confidence in a new rider (and that is no judgement on the ability of the rider)

The alternative? It goes back to be shunted around various loan homes unless it happens to find a patient and experienced person who is prepared to give it time. Or ends up even more mixed up and unhappy - in which case it would have been kinder to PTS

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I have to agree, he doesn't really seem to have had a chance yet to settle down, it can take a long time, even old horses.

On the other hand, if he does continue to show signs of rearing then he'd be on the box back now, no waiting for her to collect, that's her problem for misrepresenting him.
If he is a confirmed rearer at that age, I wouldn't pass him on at all like she has, he'd be put down so he couldn't hurt anyone. Nobody is worth more than any horse and I wouldn't like it on my conscience if he hurt someone.
 
Ok, not wishing to pick a fight or sound nasty here but you say you already have a horse that rears. Is it possible that your riding style is what has predisposed this rearing in both your original horse and this new loan one? It is just a passing thought but if the loan horses owner is actually telling the truth and its not reared before it may be that the horse and her are being judged a little harshly.

Just tryring to see things form a different angle and nothing nasty intended.
 
The OP says he is 17 - of course he's done it before, what horse gets to that age before suddenly deciding to go into a full rear with no warning?

Send him back now, if he is pts because he is dangerous, that is the owners decision, not yours, and possibly made because she knows in her heart that he really is
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Whatever you do, do not let her make you take responsibility for pts - all it would then need is for her to tell people you did not have her permission
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It does sound as though he needs to go back then MW. Theres no point in risking him doing it again. I know they can take ages to settle and, as you say, he may never do it again, but if its going to play on your mind everytime another horse comes near you when you are riding then wheres the pleasure in that.

Send him home.
 
I have to agree with Mother Hen... Grace, my chestnut mare, had never reared before I got her on loan (although as many of you know, she is now in my camp for life!) When she got really het up on a hack, she went up and I did the same as you. I jumped off, but I banged my knee (and was going on a beach holiday soon after... lovely!)

I gave her some more time to settle in, and then started again from scratch and building up the relationship which I would say took a good few months. However, after a few weeks she settled into her new field, stable and routine.

Jack has had a lot of change in his life, and it is one week only that has gone by. You say that he was fantastic when you were jumping him in the woods (I read you post, you were so thrilled) so could this not be a one off? Perhaps the owner is telling the truth on this one... Every horse has a stress level that they cannot cope with once they get above it, and maybe this was his. You said he was bucking etc. at first which I think is quite a normal reaction in this situation (especially so soon after a move) and maybe you just stopped him going forwards so much that he felt he had no other way to go but up.

I don't mean this to sound harsh, I am just trying to offer an alternative view on the situation having been there myself... However, at the end of the day there is only one person who can decide what is the best option
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Jetset I do agree and if some one was telling me what Im telling you all, Id be saying the same, give him a chance, but I cant take that chance. Ive had some very bad experiences with Arch and some very bad falls and Im not prepared to take the chance of him doing it again.
And the fact that the first thing the owner said was she'll have to have him PTS, does ring alarm bells to me!
 
I wouldn't have thought it would be MW's riding, I think she's a very sensitive rider - and her other horse is a bit of a fruit-loop bless him. He's not an easy ride at all.
 
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Jetset I do agree and if some one was telling me what Im telling you all, Id be saying the same, give him a chance, but I cant take that chance. Ive had some very bad experiences with Arch and some very bad falls and Im not prepared to take the chance of him doing it again.
And the fact that the first thing the owner said was she'll have to have him PTS, does ring alarm bells to me!

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No, I don't expect you to give him a chance hun if that is how I feel. Like I said, it is your choice and your choice alone... only you know how you feel when you are riding him!

I was just trying to put another view across as I think some people can be quick to judge on this website, and often there is another explanation for horse's behaviour. I went to a Richard Maxwell demo last night (he has worked with all three of my horses...) and he was talking about getting horses to almost rationalise fear. He said he did not expect them not to jump or look at things, but that they should be able to control their reactions. It was fantastic to watch one of the horse's reactions change with the work he did with it. Really interesting stuff
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Seems a very odd first reaction by the owner that she would have him PTS. What were her reasons for loaning him in the first place? Has she owned him for a long time? If someone's owned a horse for years and he's only 17 i find it hard to believe they'd actually have them put to sleep - especially if, as she says "he's never reared before" (oh the amount of people that use that line when you are viewing a horse for purchase.... ah that's a whole other post!)

My horse is 17 and I and honestly say he would NEVER rear whatever situation he was in. If he did try for whatever reason hewouldn't get that high as he's not practised at it. I think it takes practice for a horse to get straight up in a rear with a person on so find it hard to believe a horse would start this at 17, it would appear established to me.

However, on the other hand, none of us saw what he did so don't know how high he went up and he could have just been v v excited and forgotten his manners - he may have even scared himself doing it! It's a difficult thing to comment on without seeing first hand. Personally I'd give it more time but I am not confident with rearers either and, if you're not happy you're not happy so yes send him back. It's not worth risking losing your nerve over, that's not what you took him on for.
 
This is a really tough situation and I can honstly see it from both points of view. I took on a problem horse from project horses website. Owner said she could not be ridden but I spent a month not riding her at all and just bonding and we have now been out competing since- she just needed time- I sometmes think we demand things from then that are sooo unnatural to them that they can thelp but react negatively. Sometimes time just helps them understand the situation they are in- but having said that my little mare did buck me off in Feb and broke my foot pretty badly (surgery was necessary to patch me up - and im still suffering) so my new purchase had to have a naturally quiet/sensible nature as I dont want to go through all that again! Now I have kept my mare because her owner (she had been on trial to me) told me she would be put to sleep most probably on her return I coulnt send her back- but we have our own land so can afford to keep more than one of two beasties- lifes too short for worry- do what makes sense to you!
 
QR - if you are aren't going to be confident riding this horse, then definitely send him back. Harshly it is the owner's problem as to what she decides to do with him then (and for me to say that is amazing, as I hate the PTS option and am not usually an advocate).

However, I am inclined to agree with others who have said he probably needs more time to settle. I do so dislike the trend of getting a new horse and not allowing them time to settle in to their new environment and expecting exemplary behaviour.

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I think it takes practice for a horse to get straight up in a rear with a person

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Sorry don't agree with that. My mare reared straight up behind the vertical (my instructor was watching) as a rather naughty youngster - I was on the point of bailing, when she decided to come down and straight into a buck (yes she was a very agile youngster!!!!) Goodness knows how I stayed on, but I did, worked her through it and whilst we have had on and off mini rears and launches over the years and she would most definitely rear if ridden too tightly when she was scared of something (you kind of have to keep her moving and rock her back and forwards on the aids, instead of insisting she stands stock still), she has never ever reared vertical again.

So a horse can do this extremely easily and well without any practice what so ever and it doesn't have to be a trained habit.

Best of luck OP - I do understand why you want to send this horse back - end of the day that's why people loan horses, as it isn't such a commitment as buying them, so you should have every right to send him back at any time. Bottom line is he is still owned by the lady, so she should be the one to make any decisions on his future.

Best of luck x
 
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